Perfect Pan-Grilled Steaks

It is hard to beat Perfect Pan Grilled Steaks…seared and golden on the outside, and moist and tender on the inside. Steak is one of those foods that can be cooked a ton of different ways…grilled, fried, baked, broiled, stir-fried…you name it! And it is good every single one of those ways as long as it is done right. So…let me show you how to make a perfect pan-grilled steak in about 10 minutes!

For this post, I am using sirloin steaks. They are readily available, and reasonably affordable as well. I typically buy steaks that are about 6oz in weight, and about an inch thick. I think these come out much better than the thinner cuts do. So, first, I always rinse raw meat in cool running water. I tell people I am not sure why I do that, but I always have…so I guess I always will. Blot the steaks dry with a paper towel, and season both sides with salt and pepper. We like a lot of pepper at my house, so you should adjust the amount to your taste.

Next, over medium-high heat, add 2 tsp of olive oil to a grill pan. I use one from Cuisinart that I bought years ago, and I just love it. Now, add your steaks, and allow them to cook undisturbed for 4 1/2 – 5 minutes. Do Not Flip Them! They will be fine!

After 4 1/2 – 5 minutes, go ahead and flip the steaks. You should have something that looks like this….it’s starting to look pretty yummy, huh? Now, leave the steaks alone to cook on this side for between 3-6 minutes…depending on how you like your steak.

The smell of these steaks cooking is like heaven! Seriously! So, we like our steaks between medium-rare and medium….so I remove mine from the pan after about 3 – 4 minutes. Set them aside to rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to build up.

Since I was using these to make a grilled steak salad, I sliced them into thin slices. You can see the juiciness still inside, and the beautiful warm pink center. The seared outer edges give a richness of flavor that sets the whole thing off perfectly.

So now, you can cook your own perfect steaks right inside on your stove. And it only takes 10 minutes from start to finish, which makes it a perfect weeknight meal. Use it over a steak salad, or cut them into strips for steak wraps, or pitas, or just eat them with a yummy baked potato for a good old-fashioned steak and potatoes meal! In fact, try them with my Ricotta Stuffed Potatoes for a fabulous dinner any day of the week!

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” – Julia Child